At least 14 dead after boat sinks off Malaysia

Fourteen people have been confirmed dead after a boat carrying about 100 people capsized on the morning of September 3 off the western coast of Malaysia in the Malacca Strait, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

Mohamad Aliyas Hamdan, MMEA district chief, told a press conference that 15 have been rescued, including 14 men and one woman, and 14 bodies have been found.

The bodies will be taken to a public hospital Teluk Intan in neighbouring Perak state.

The boat went down in the waters off Malaysia's western coast near the coastal town of Sabak Bernam in central Selangor state.

Based on the size of the boat, it could have been carrying about 70 people but local fishermen said there could have been up to 100 people supposed to be Indonesian migrants on board, Hamdan said, adding that it remains unknown whether the migrants were attempting to land in Malaysia or trying to leave Malaysia illegally.

Authorities have deployed 12 ships and a plane along with some 200 officers to carry out the search and rescue operation for the remaining victims.

The tragedy was believed to be caused by overcrowding or bad weather.-VNA